National Republican., 1887-06-06
James Gillespie Blaine.

The ship on which James G.. Blaine en-
baiks will bear across the Atlantic ocean
the greatest living American statesman and
one Of the most perfect types Of the man
created by Americas free institutions,
without office or place, he represents the
majesty Of American power-the power OF
the people.
For quarter OF century Mr.. Blaine
has been most prominent figure in Ameri-
can politics and American history, and the
politicians Of Europe, whose combinations
extend beyond their own borders, have
watched his acts and utterances, and sought
with the deepest interest to fathom his policy
regarding this hemisphere.
Representative, Speaker, Senator, Secre-
tary of State, and, but for an ollgarchy which
rules some of the states, President of the
United States, Mr.. Blaine, In all his public
roles, has sustained himself as "Grst among
his equals"-proved himself the peer of any
man who ever held similar power. As a
political leader he rivals Gladstone, as a de-
batter he stands with Pitt, as diplomat the
equal of Cavour, as political historian he
ranks with Macauley.
Mr.. Blaine does not need foreign travel
ard the tour Of Europe, which he now takes,
to enlighten him as to the worlds condition,
ard only makes the voyage for rest and
recreation, intending to see the countries
which steam and electricity have made our
immediate neighbors.
The leaders Of liberal thoughtin In England,
men like Gladstone and Morley, will greet
~ ha al al
exponents Of their ideas, while Parnell,
Davitt, and the other patriotic Irishmen
will hail him as the irmest friend Of re-
deemed Ireland.
The republicans OF Frauce-men like
Grevy, Clemenceau, and Ferry-will well
come Mr.. Blaine as the greatest representa-
tive of the American people, aud regard
him as the friend Of freedom wherever
found.
Bismarck will see in Mr.. Blaine the man
who, as the leader Of great party In
America, when Germany was struggling
for unity, and through unity for the peace
that follows power, said German nationality
was greatly to be desired,
The son OF the man who freed and gave
political rights to more than twenty million
Russian seris, and who for doing 1t sacrificed
his life, can give cordial greeting to Mr.
Blaine for his efforts as q statesman IN en-.
deavoring to secure freedom and politica
rights to the enslaved in America.
IL Rome Mr.. Blaine will meet two soy
ereigns-Humbert, the temporal king, who
rules over the kingdom OF Italy, and Leo
the spiritual sovereign OF over two hundred
million Christians and perhaps the creates
of these spiritual rulers for centuries past
In Madrid Mr.. Blaine will meet Gas
tellar, Gorilla, aud the other republican
leaders who have liberalized the OLE
Bourbon monarchy and are fast bringing
the people Of Spain to understand wha
freedom means. In Vienna and Pesth h
win find parllaments representing the peo
pie and controlling the once despotlc Haps
burg.
So in all Europe, wherever this representa-
tive of Americas free institutions goes, HI
will find that "the little leaven" of free.
dom planted In America is ''worklng til,
whole lump'-that the right of all men tt
rule themselves and the right of all men o.
all races to be free, both first established
here through bloody wars, are now botl
being recognized by people and rulers IL
Europe-that the old world and its inhabit
ants are taking lessons from the new.
Last but not least, the great minds who
control the commercial world will listen t.
his words of wisdom as the exponent o.
the soundest practical business ideas ii
finance and commerce.
Every American at home will watch will
profound interest each step in the tour o
Mr.. Blaine, while those who meet him IL
foreign lands will stand proudly crest II
his presence, glad to receive and presen
him as the foremost private citizen of th,
American republic and the western hemis
phere, while all will wish him health ant
pleasure, with happy return in due sea
son to his own land, where his mama and
fame are honored and respected.